Politics in Deeply Divided Societies

Politics in Deeply Divided Societies

by Adrian Guelke (Author)

Synopsis

The establishment of durable, democratic institutions constitutesone of the major challenges of our age. As countless contemporaryexamples have shown, it requires far more than simply the holdingof free elections. The consolidation of a legitimate constitutionalorder is difficult to achieve in any society, but it is especiallyproblematic in societies with deep social cleavages.

This book provides an authoritative and systematic analysis ofthe politics of so- called 'deeply divided societies' in thepost Cold War era. From Bosnia to South Africa, Northern Ireland toIraq, it explains why such places are so prone to politicalviolence, and demonstrates why - even in times of peace - the fearof violence continues to shape attitudes, entrenching divisions insocieties that already lack consensus on their politicalinstitutions.

Combining intellectual rigour and accessibility, it examines thechallenge of establishing order and justice in such unstableenvironments, and critically assesses a range of political optionsavailable, from partition to power-sharing and various initiativesto promote integration. The Politics of Deeply DividedSocieties is an ideal resource for students of comparativepolitics and related disciplines, as well as anyone with aninterest in the dynamics of ethnic conflict and nationalism.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
Publisher: Polity Press
Published: 30 Mar 2012

ISBN 10: 0745648509
ISBN 13: 9780745648507

Media Reviews
A very good introductory text for anyone interested in the sources of divisions in pluralistic societies, as well as the successes and failures of the management of intercommunal differences - highly recommended. Global Policy An authoritative guide. It will likely remain a touchstone text for those working in conflict management or peace studies for many years to come. Central European Journal of International and Security Studies A native of Northern Ireland, Guelke's close encounters with his home country's violent political past shines throughout this volume. He provides a rich study of Northern Ireland, as wells as wide range of contemporary examples including post-apartheid era South Africa, the break-up of Yugoslavia, communal violence in India, the 2011 referendum creating South Sudan, among others. LSE Review of Books A comprehensive analysis of the poitics of moderately and deeply divided societies. Economic & Political Weekly A distinguished expert in deeply divided societies, Guelke skilfully unpacks the challenges facing societies divided by ethnicity, religion, and race and tackles the critical dilemmas encountered by those seeking to design durable conflict-mitigating institutions. The Politics in Deeply Divided Societies will stimulate current scholarship and nurture the next generation of students. Neophytos G. Loizides, University of Kent This volume offers a highly readable and sophisticated analysis of deeply divided societies - countries that are at the root of both domestic strife and international conflict. Guelke's treatment is a concise but impressive tour de force of an essential area of ethnic politics. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the management of inter-ethnic conflict and in the promotion of sustainable democracy in some of the world's least stable polities. Ilan Peleg, Middle East Institute, Washington, DC Politics in Deeply Divided Societies provides a comprehensive, lucid and deeply insightful analysis of societies struggling with ethnic, religious, class and other divisions that often produce violence and failed political systems. Drawing on a wide range of important cases, this excellent book also assesses lucidly the varying consequences of these struggles, for instance partition, and offers a balanced presentation of techniques for overcoming them. David E. Schmitt, Northeastern University
Author Bio
Adrian Guelke is professor of comparative politics at Queen's University of Belfast.